 | Ina |  |
SCENE I.
Edelfleda's Antichamber.Bertha, Elenor, &c.
BERTHA
(entering from the inner apartment).
The princess will not yet come forth. She thus
Will oft retire from gaiety and splendor
To sit and muse.
ELENOR.
She is much changed of late.
There was a time when she was always pleased.
She chid me yesterday, I know not wherefore.
The broider'd robe, I wrought with so much care,
She cast aside, and said it suited not
Her homely features.
BERTHA.
Homely features, said she?
The beauteous princess Edelfleda!
10
Yes.
She is but changed in mind, although she blame
Her outward form: she is no longer gentle.
Dost thou remember something of this humour,
When the orphan Lady Ina's charms erewhile
Arrested every eye and every heart
Of the gay court?
BERTHA.
Fie on thee, Elenor;
Thou would'st not tax thy mistress with base envy?
ELENOR
(archly).
Not so—but when the Lady Ina was forbid
The royal presence, our fair Edelfleda
Shone forth more radiant; as the glorious sun
Himself is wont, when the o'ershadowing cloud
Is wafted by the angry winds away.
BERTHA.
The king of Mercia's daughter, so adorn'd
With every gift of royal excellence,
Were rather deem'd the sun that shed a radiance
O'er the slight vapour sporting in his beams.
ELENOR.
Nay, you are angry now; but 'tis well known
How much Prince Egbert loved the Lady Ina.
BERTHA.
Silence, imprudent girl! At such an hour,
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If she should hear thee speak the hated name—
ELENOR.
I will be silent. But even thou hast own'd
The princess loved not her—I may not name.
Enter Edelfleda (they appear embarrassed).
EDELFLEDA.
Why start thus, Elenor, and blush to see me?
Wherefore dost thou look strange upon me, Bertha?
It seems my presence is to neither grateful.
Accurst the day I came to Wessex' court!
E'en my own women, Bertha, even thou
Wilt soon forsake me.
BERTHA.
How have I deserved
This keen reproach?
EDELFLEDA.
Go, leave us, Elenor!
[Exit Elenor.
Forgive my wayward temper, dearest Bertha;
And may'st thou never know the pang that forced
The peevish word which seem'd to chide thy love.
BERTHA.
Alas! my princess, double is the wrong
To own a pang, nor share it with thy Bertha.
12
(embarrassed).
What have I said? Oh! there are pangs that shun
All fellowship. Grief utters its complaint,
And finds a sweetness in its gushing tears;
But this!—
BERTHA.
Remorse alone speaks thus.
EDELFLEDA.
Remorse
Were his, more justly, who inflicts the ill.
Wrongs undeserved, and borne in silence, wake
No conscious blush. The weak complaint alone
(By pride disown'd) might crimson o'er my cheek.
BERTHA.
If breathed to me? To me, whose raptured ear
Drank the first half-form'd accents of thy tongue.
EDELFLEDA.
This hated court is Edelfleda's prison,
Not the gay scene of her famed beauty's triumph.
But Mercia's king, the valiant Ethelbald,
Will free his daughter, and avenge her wrongs!
Restore her to her country—to her honours—
To all restore her, save to happiness!
Neglected! scorn'd!
BERTHA.
By whom neglected, scorn'd?
13
(embarrassed).
The king!—his nobles!
BERTHA.
The king loves—honours thee;
Already, princess, holds thee as his daughter,
Whom a few days will make Prince Egbert's wife.
EDELFLEDA.
Prince Egbert's wife! Oh! never, never, Bertha.
Why hast thou touch'd that string?
BERTHA.
I thought no ill.
Came you not to this court betroth'd to him?
And gaily came, a joyful, willing bride.
Is not Prince Egbert knighthood's fairest flower?
EDELFLEDA.
Too sure, I came; gay, thoughtless, young, and free;
And, oh! too surely he is all thou say'st:
Nay, far beyond thy fancy's reach endow'd!
BERTHA.
Thy speech is still at variance with itself.
EDELFLEDA.
'Tis but the picture of the strife within.
BERTHA.
My child! these dreadful words of mystery
Fill all my soul with terror. I adjure thee,
By my long services, my faithful duty,
Speak thy full heart.
14
(after a conflict).
He loves me not, good Bertha.
Spare, spare a princess' pride, and guess the rest.
BERTHA.
Heaven shield thee! would'st thou say he loves another?
Nay, think it not: she has been long removed.
EDELFLEDA.
I named her not. Ha! then thou know'st it, Bertha!
Or hadst not glanced at her. Thou know'st it; speak,
Oh! tell me all; it is too late to hide it.
BERTHA.
Indeed I nothing know—believe me, nothing:
The idle rumours of an idle court—
Should they arrest our thoughts?
EDELFLEDA.
What idle rumours?
And am I then the jest o' the idle court?
Do they point at me as I pass, and say
'Tis she! 'tis the neglected Edelfleda!
BERTHA.
Be calm, my princess; see the holy Baldred:
You did yourself request his presence.
Enter Baldred.
EDELFLEDA
(resuming a dignified manner).
Father,
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For sudden purposing to leave a court
Where I have long resided, while the duty
A daughter owes a father—
BALDRED.
Can it be
That Edelfleda leaves the court of Wessex,
When all the palace, all the city, hail
With gratulation her approaching nuptials?
EDELFLEDA
(haughtily).
Softly, good Baldred. Learn that Mercia's princess
Is not so lightly won, nor gives her hand
As to the careless boor the village maid,
Willing ere woo'd, or rudely woo'd at best.
BALDRED
(sarcastically).
Ill would the faltering phrase, the humble sigh,
Become the lip accustom'd to command!
Would'st thou Prince Egbert, he so graced by fortune,
Should bear himself as common lovers use?
EDELFLEDA.
I heed not how the prince may bear himself.
Go, Baldred; plead his cause in other ears,
Where it may more import. What may concern
My honour, is my sole, my proper care.
I claim no service of your courtesy,
Save to make known, e'en now, to royal Cenulph,
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[Exeunt Edelfleda and Bertha.
BALDRED
(alone).
And is it so? And will she sacrifice
To pride, her passion for detested Egbert?
This may work mischief to the man I hate.
All kindly feelings from my breast I banish'd,
When, in disgust and bitterness of soul,
O'er my deep festering wounds I flung this garb.
It was for Egbert fortune slighted me!
Ere he had grasp'd a sword, I led the battle!
When lo! he comes a meteor in men's eyes—
Draws in his glittering train my soldiers' hearts—
I woo'd fair Ina, and was paid with scorn:
While Egbert—curses on him! fired alike—
Though now to hate be turn'd the love I bore her,
My bosom holds remembrance of the offence.
Enter an Attendant.
ATTENDANT.
The king demands your presence, holy father,
On matters of high import.
BALDRED.
I attend.
[Exeunt.
| Ina | |